Pugni

Whispers or shouts, there’s no middle ground. Contrasts and overwhelming emotions, you can’t experience them halfway. They flow inside without holding back, sometimes calm, sometimes overpowering. The only way to avoid being swept away is to accept and embrace them, building your own boundaries.

Tomorrow, October 11, Tuffo, distributed by Believe Music Italia, will be released.

The debut album by Pugni, whose real name is Lorenzo Pagni, is an exploration of his true inner self. We had the chance to chat with the artist and dive into the journey that led him to create the nine tracks in the album, which talk about mental health, death and rebirth, and love. It’s a plunge into the unconscious, giving voice to the stories Lorenzo lives firsthand, intertwined with the ones he encounters in therapy sessions where he uncovers parts of himself—especially the unwanted ones we refuse to accept.

Pugni’s Tuffo promotional pictures shot by Giulia Bartolini - courtesy of the press office

“I think music plays a double role for me: on one hand, it’s a mirror of the depth I’ve reached in my personal work; on the other, it’s a way to explore the hidden corners of the soul. Regarding my personal growth, psychotherapy has definitely helped me a lot, especially hypnosis. I went through 10 years of hypnosis therapy, which gave me access to parts of myself I wouldn’t have otherwise known. Tuffo reflects that too: a dive into hidden depths. As for baring myself, I live with the belief that it might resonate with others and maybe make them feel seen and less alone.”

Psychologist by day, performer by night.
The psyche is absolutely fascinating—it’s the most beautiful thing about living with other human beings: experiencing them in all their complexities, which enriches us the most.

Working as a psychologist, Lorenzo is definitely impacted by the suffering and emotions he deals with, which surely influences his creative process.

“My job gives me so much, but it also takes a lot. It gives me so much because it lets me listen to stories that are almost unbelievable, it helps me put my own problems into perspective, and it feeds me with humanity and authenticity. Pain is often dismissed too easily, but it holds an infinite richness. It takes a lot from me because I work in psychiatry, so every day I’m in contact with a darkness that risks sticking to my skin. Luckily, there’s music.”

Lorenzo and Pugni—two distinct identities (but not really).
How much of young Lorenzo (the rowing champion, with all the expectations, duties, fears, words, deeds, and omissions...) is still in Lorenzo today? And more importantly, how much of Pugni is in Lorenzo, and vice versa?

“Right now, all my personalities coexist, and honestly, they often argue with each other. I grew up with a sense of duty and competition, which helped me achieve goals and satisfaction, but eventually, I realized it didn’t nourish the most important part—my emotional side. It was just superficial ego gratification. Music has been my refuge, my little corner where I can be fragile, vulnerable, and free from external pressures. What’s hard for me now is that I’m trying to turn it into a career, and the music world is very competitive. I want to avoid letting that environment trigger the competitive part of me, so I can keep music as my therapy and safe space.”

Art influences every aspect of Lorenzo’s life. It’s a melting pot of sensations and influences, producing a musical landscape full of beauty and depth.

“Three albums, maybe cliché, but they’re the ones I grew up with: Ten by Pearl Jam, For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver, and The Game by Queen. Three paintings: Sirena by Rino Pagni (my dad’s painting—watching him paint as a kid was a mystical experience), Self-Portrait 1243 by Vincent Van Gogh, and Christ of Saint John of the Cross by Salvador Dalí.”

Pugni’s music invites you to embrace and pay more attention to the human unconscious, exploring what usually remains hidden. Keeping this aspect alive in your music is important, though sometimes it can be exhausting.

“It’s definitely tiring, but for me, it’s absolutely necessary. Honestly, I’d like to work on ‘lightness,’ but right now (to quote one of my favorite books), it’s unbearable for me. I need to break through the surface and dive into the depths to be authentic, even though I realize it might come across as heavy. Who knows, maybe the next album will be reggaeton!”.